Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

The word of the Lord came
to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your exceedingly great reward.”
Abram said, “Lord God, what will you give me,
since I continue childless,
and the one who will inherit my estate
is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram said,
“Behold, to me you have given no offspring,
and behold, one of my household is my heir.”
Behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
“This man will not be your heir,
but he who will come from your body
will be your heir.”
The Lord brought him outside, and said,
“Look now toward the sky, and count the stars,
if you are able to count them.”
He said to Abram, “So shall your descendents be.”
He believed the Lord;
and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.

The Lord visited Sarah as he had said,
and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.
Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age,
at the set time of which God had promised.
Abraham named his son who was born to him,
whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.

Or Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19

Brothers and Sisters:
By faith, Abraham, when he was called,
obeyed, going to the place
which he was to receive as an inheritance.
He went out, not knowing where he went.

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive,
and she bore a child when she was past the age,
since she counted him faithful who had promised.
Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude,
and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore,
were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac.
Yes, he who had received the promises
was offering up his only son.
He to whom it was said, “In Isaac will your offspring be named”,
concluded that God is able to raise up even from the dead.
Figuratively speaking, he did receive him back from the dead.

Responsorial - Psalm 128.1-2, 3, 4-5 Resp. 1

R. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways.
For you will eat the labor of your hands.
You will be happy, and it will be well with you.

R. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.

Your wife will be as a fruitful vine,
in the innermost parts of your house;
your children like olive plants, around your table.

R. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.

Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
and may you see the good of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.

R. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways.

Or Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 Resp. 5a

R. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely are your dwellings, Lord of Hosts!
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

R. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house.
They are always praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you;
who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.

When the days were fulfilled of
their purification according to the law of Moses
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem,
to present him to the Lord
as it is written in the law of the Lord:
“Every male who opens the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord”,
and to offer a sacrifice
according to that which is said
in the law of the Lord:
“A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
looking for the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was on him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
He came in the Spirit into the temple.

When the parents brought in the child, Jesus,
to do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
he took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
“Now you may release your servant, Master,
according to your word, in peace;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
a light for revelation to the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things
which were spoken concerning him,
and Simeon blessed them,
and said to Mary, his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign which will be contradicted.
(Indeed, a sword will pierce through your own soul)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel,
of the tribe of Asher.
She was of a great age,
having lived with a husband
seven years from her virginity,
and as a widow for about eighty-four years.
She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and petitions night and day.
Coming up at the same hour,
she gave thanks to the Lord,
and spoke of him to all those
who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
When they had accomplished all things
that were according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee,
to their own city, Nazareth.
The child grew,
and became strong in spirit,
being filled with wisdom,
and the grace of God was upon him.